![]() | September 2, 2013
| The Two Choices We Face
byJim RohnEach of us has two distinct choices to make about what we will do with our lives. The first choice we can make is to be less than we have the capacity to be. To earn less. To have less. To read less and think less. To try less and discipline ourselves less. These are the choices that lead to an empty life. These are the choices that, once made, lead to a life of constant apprehension instead of a life of wondrous anticipation. And the second choice? To do it all! To become all that we can possibly be. To read every book that we possibly can. To earn as much as we possibly can. To give and share as much as we possibly can. To strive and produce and accomplish as much as we possibly can. All of us have the choice. To do or not to do. To be or not to be. To be all or to be less or to be nothing at all. Like the tree, it would be a worthy challenge for us all to stretch upward and outward to the full measure of our capabilities. Why not do all that we can, every moment that we can, the best that we can, for as long as we can? | ![]() ![]() |
| Our ultimate life objective should be to create as much as our talent and ability and desire will permit. To settle for doing less than we could do is to fail in this worthiest of undertakings. Results are the best measurement of human progress. Not conversation. Not explanation. Not justification. Results! And if our results are less than our potential suggests that they should be, then we must strive to become more today than we were the day before. The greatest rewards are always reserved for those who bring great value to themselves and the world around them as a result of whom and what they have become. Jim Rohn’s book, Leading an Inspired Life, highlights his foundational principles in business and life on attaining success, and is available on JimRohn.com. | ![]() | ![The New Mentor Package]()
| Vitamins for the Mind
by Jim Rohn Leadership “Leaders, whether in the family, in business, in government, or in education, must not allow themselves to mistake intentions for accomplishments.” “Managers help people to see themselves as they are. Leaders help people to see themselves better than they are.” “When dealing with people, I generally take the obvious approach. When someone says, ‘This always happens to me and that always happens to me. Why do these things always happen to me?’ I simply say, ‘Beats me. I don't know. All I know is that those kinds of things seem to happen to people like you.’” “We could all use a little coaching. When you're playing the game, it's hard to think of everything.” “A good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do even better.” “As a leader you should always start with where people are before you try to take them to where you want them to go.” Find more “Vitamins for the Mind” in The Treasury of Quotes by Jim Rohn, a 124-page hardbound book available on JimRohn.com. |
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| ![]() | | People who want to retire so they can sit under a coconut tree watching the grass grow baffle me. We were created for meaningful work, and one of life's greatest pleasures is the satisfaction of a job well done. | |
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And yet, there are millions of people who don't like their job. There are over 600,000 ways to make a living in this country, yet job satisfaction surveys tell us that more than 50 percent of the working population claim to dislike their job. Something's wrong with this picture!
I've discovered that loving the job you have, or finding a job you can love, is dependent on three things. I call these the "ABC's of Loving Your Job." Associates—Work with people you enjoy.
For years, my INJOY friends have heard me brag on people like Dan Reiland, Tim Elmore and Dick Peterson. It has been my privilege to work alongside these men, and many other wonderful people, for years. For me, going to work is like going to a party—all my best friends will be there! I realize that not everyone is surrounded with my kind of staff. The good news is you can develop one. When I talk to leaders about hiring people, I advise them to hire first for affinity, second for character, third for specific skills. If you bring on someone you like whom you can trust, you can teach him or her whatever skills they need for the job. Regarding your existing staff, don't forget that people skills can be learned as well. If you are willing to make the investment, you can cultivate the right kind of people skills in them, helping them become the kind of people that everyone wants to be around. Belief—Trust that your work is worthwhile and making a vital difference.
Legendary Indy 500 racecar driver Andy Granatelli said once, "When you are making a success of something, it's not work. It's a way of life. You enjoy yourself because you are making your contribution to the world." Bob Buford has written that many people spend the first half of their career pursuing success. When success alone is found to be lacking, they give the second half to the pursuit of significance, which is far more satisfying. If your job is not making a difference in this world, by all means, get out there and find something else. But in many situations, you'll find a sense of making a difference through your work if you simply look for it. Challenge—Find a job big enough to keep you growing for the rest of your life.
Like too-small shoes pinch the feet, too small of a job pinches a leader's spirit. Cole Porter used to sing, "I want to ride to the ridge where the West commences. I can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences. Don't fence me in." If the job you have now offers no opportunity to grow, decide to grow anyway. Invest in your own personal development, sharpening leadership skills, interpersonal skills, and technical skills. What you'll discover is that your organization will find a place for a person who has made a priority out of growth. And if they don't, the competition will! And keep this in mind when you consider your top performers: Are you providing room for your top performers to grow? If you don't, someone else will. Finding joy in your work, or evaluating a lack of joy, can be found by considering associates, beliefs, and challenges. |
